Safety razor



F. C. ROJAHN SAFETY RAZOR 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov Dec. 17, 1940.

Dec. 17, 1940. F Q ROJAHN y 2,225,020

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Nov. 12; 19:58 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederick C. Rojahn, New York, N. Y. Application November 12, *1938, Serial No. 240,188

s claims.

This invention relates to safety razors, and this applicationin part, is a continuation in part of my prior application, Serial No. 24,812, filed June 4, 1935, and, .in other part, represents va carrying forward of the invention Idisclosed in said prior application.

The invention relates more particularly to safety razors of the type embodying a blade supporting frame, a thin, flexible blade, and means for clamping the blade in an operative position against the frame, and,y generally speaking, the object of the invention is to provide a .safety razor of this type in which the blade clamping means is permanently assembled with the frame against the possibility of loss therefrom and is quickly and easily operable between blade clamping and blade releasing positions.

Aspecial object of the invention is toprovide a simple, practical safety razor of the type mentioned which is of low production cost and which is thoroughly reliable and efficient in use.

Another special object of the invention is rto provide a safety razor of the type mentioned in which the blade clamping means is operable between blade clamping and blade releasing positions by rotation of a part of the handle rof the razor, and which embodiesl simple, f practical means whereby rotation of the handlepart imparts desired blade clamping and blade releasing movements to the blade clamping means.

Another special object of the invention is to provide a safety razor of the type mentionedl embodying a container to receive lather and cuttings and which is readily accessible for cleaning purposes. y

With the foregoing and other objectsin view,

which will become more fully apparent as the' nature of the invention isbetter understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts .as will bel hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote ycorresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a safety razor constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of therazor shown in Fig. 1, the blade clamping means being shown in blade clamping position.

Figure 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 showing the blade clamping means in blade releasing position.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the razor shown in Fig. 1. l y

Figure 5 is a central, longitudinal section through the razor shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a central, transverse section: 5 through the razor shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 'I is a side elevationof a safety razor constructed in accordance with another practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the razor shown 10 in Fig. 7, the blade clamping means being shown in blade clamping position.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the blade clamping means in blade releasing position.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a safety razor constructed in accordance with another practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the razor shown in Fig. 10, the blade clamping means .be- 20 ing shown in blade vclamping position; and

Figure 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the bladeA clamp-ing means in blade releasing position.

, Referring to the drawings in detail, first with 25 particular reference ,to the embodiment. of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, it Will be observed that the present razor includes a blade supporting frame, designated generally as A, and

, that this frame is of generally rectangular shape v30 as viewed in side elevation and comprises a pair of spaced apart end plates I0, I0, a bottom plate f II joining said end plates together at their bottoms, and a transversely arched, blade supporting top plate I2 joining said end plates together 35 at their tops.

The razor blade, designated generally Aas B, may be specially constructed for use in the .present razor, or it may ,be of a known commercial type.l It is rectangular in shape, thin and flex- 40 ible', sharpened along its two longitudinally extending edges, and is provided with suitable `openings to receive suitable projections I3 rising from the frame top plate I I to properly position it upon said top plate. In each of the frame end plates I0 is a central, vertical, elongated slot I4, while .extending between said end platesis a cross bar I5 carrying at its ends trunnion or pivot elements I6 Which extend through said slots I4. `Said bar thus is 50 guided for vertical movement within theframe A and by vertical movements thereof imparts ,l corresponding movements to the trunnion or pivot elements I6. Means vfor clamping the blade B against tht-...55

top plate II comprises a pair of yoke elements C, C, each of inverted U-shape as viewed in side elevation and each comprising a blade engaging top member II and a pair of arms I8 depending, respectively, from the opposite ends of said top member.

The yokes C extend longitudinally relative to the frame A and have their arms I8, I8 extending downwardly over the outer faces of the end plates I0, II), respectively, the arm at one end of each yoke being pivotally engaged with one of the trunnion or pivot elements I6 and the arm at the other end of each yoke being pivotally engaged with the remaining trunnion or pivot element I6. In this connection, it will be observed that, in order to permit such pivotal mounting of the yokes, the lower end portions of the arms I8 of one of the yokes are formed to overlie the lower end portions of the arms I8 of the other yoke. Moreover, it will be observed of the yokes, the trunnions or pivots I6 may appropriately be in the form of shouldered screws threaded into the ends of the cross bar I5 as shown.

'I'he yokes C, C are movable between lowered, inwardly swung, blade clamping positions in which the inner edges of their top members I1, Il abut each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and elevated, outwardly swung positions in which the frame top plate I2 is uncovered for removal of a blade thereof or for positioning of a blade thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, and simple means are provided whereby said yokes are moved positively to said positions b-y downward and upward movements respectively, of the cross bar I5.

The yoke arms I8 are of substantially J-shape. That is to say, at the lower end of each yoke arm lis an outwardly directed tip or hook formation Alio I9. Moreover, a pair of pins 2U, 2U project outwardly from each end plate IU in a common horizontal plane, one to either side of the slot I4, and are so spaced apart and so positioned vertically with respect to the frame A that, upon downward movement of the cross bar I5 from its uppermost position, the outer edges of the respective yoke arms engage said pins and thereby are caused to be swung inwardly to their innermost positions, either prior to or simultaneously with movement of the cross bar I5 to its lowermost position.

- Also, the locations of said pins is such that, upon upward movement of the cross bar I5 from its AVVlowermost to its uppermost position, said pins -are `.engaged by the outwardly directed tip or hook formations I9 of the arms I8 to cause the yokes C', C to be swung outwardly to their blade access affording positions shown in Fig. 3 either prior to or simultaneously with movement of i the cross bar I5 to its uppermost position. Furthermore, the bottom portions of the tip or hook formations I9 of the arms I8 preferably are shaped to engage between the pins 20, 20 and thereby hold the yokes in predetermined outwardly swung positions when the cross bar I5 is in its uppermost position. Of course, the dimensions of the parts is such that when the cross bar I5'is in its lowermost position, the top members I1, Il of the yokes exert downward pressure upon theblade B and maintain the same transversely bowed and clamped against the top of the frame top plate I2.

Any suitable means may be provided for vertically shifting the cross bar I5 to its uppermost and lowermost positions. As illustrated in the present'instance the frame A is provided with a handle 2| for manipulating the razor. This handle is suitably xed to and depends from the frame bottom plate II, medially thereof, and is hollow, and contains a screw element 22 which, by any suitable means, as, for example, a ring 23 disposed in mating grooves in the handle and said screw element, is held against longitudinal movement but is permitted to rotate freely relative to said handle.

Suitably fastened at its upper end to the cross bar I 5 and extending downwardly therefrom into the handle 2| and into an axial bore in the screw element 22, is a rod 2d which, at or near its lower end, is provided with a cross pin 25 disposed in a spiral slot or slots 26 in said screw member. Thus, by rotation of the screw element 22 the rod 24 and, consequently, the cross bar I5, may be moved upwardly and downwardly to move the yokes C, C to their upper, outwardly swung positions and t0 their lower, inwardly swung positions as is apparent.

For rotating the screw element 22 the same may be provided with a finger grip portion 2'I extending below the lower end of the handle 2I and forming, in effect, a part of said handle.

Any suitable guard means adjacent to the cutting edges of the blade B may be provided. As illustrated in the present instance, a pair of closure plates 28, 28 for the sides of the frame A are provided along their upper edges with guard teeth 29 disposed suitably outwardly of and below the cutting edges of the blade B for contact with the skin in advance of said cutting edges to prevent the latter from gouging the skin.

Between the guard teeth 29 andthe cutting edges of the blade B and also between said guard teeth and the longitudinal edges of the frame top plate I2 are narrow slots to permit lather and cuttings to enter the container formed by the frame A and its side closure plates 28, while in order to permit ready cleaning of said container whenever desired, the closure plates 28 are suitably pivoted to the frame A for swinging movement between open and closed positions relative thereto. In this connection and as illustrated in the present instance, the closure plates 28 are pivotedv at their tops, as indicated at 3D, to the Y irame end plates I Il, I0, lips 3I are provided on the ends of said closure plates for contact with the edges of said end plates to limit inward swinging movement of said closure plates, and spring tongues 32 are provided on said closure plates for frictional engagement with the inner faces of the end plates to hold said closure plates in closed positions.

In operation, the finger grip element 21 rst is rotated .to move the yokes C, C to their upper, outwardly swung positions illustrated in Fig. 3 to permit the positioning of a bladeB upon the to-p plate I2 and then is rotated to move said yokes to their lower, inwardly swung, blade clamping positions. 'I'he razor then is ready for use. When in use, lather and cuttings enter the container formed by the frame A and its side closure' plates 28 and, whenever desired, said' closure plates may be swung open 'to' permit cleaning of said container. After use, the finger grip element 2l again is rotated to 4move the yokes C, C to their upper, outwardly swung positions to permit removal of the blade, whereupon, after cleaning, the yokes may be moved to their closed positions until'the razor is again to be used.

As will be apparent,v the yokes C; C are vpositively controlled in their movements, thel blade clamping means are desirably permanently asvplates may, according to any of the forms .of the sembledfwith the razor, and the razor may be produced at low cost because it embodies few parts which are ycapable of I economical production and assembly.

Referring nowto the' form of the invention illustrated inFigures 7 to 9, it will be .observed that the same is of generally the same construction and the same mode offoperation'as the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, except that the bladeclamping means comprises only a single yoke element designated as C'. Therefore, the details of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 are not repeated.

The yoke element C comprises a top member Il' having arms I8' depending from the ends thereof over the frame end plates I and pivotally mounted on the screws I6. The arms 18' are of substantially J-shape. In other words, each arm is'vprovided `at its lower end with a laterally extending Vtip or hook formation I9 to engage a related pin 20' projecting outwardly from the related end plate l0 to 'cause theyoke element to be rswung to its Fig. 9 position to afford access tothe topof the frame A for blade applying or removal purposes when the cross bar (not shown) is moved to its uppermost position. The other pins 20 are located slightly above said first mentioned pins to permit said-swinging movement of the yoke element and to be contactedl by thefedges of the arms I8 opposite the edges thereof from which the tips or rhook formations I9 project, to prevent swinging movement of the yoke elements in the opposite direction. As shown, the pins 20' are located sufciently far above the tips or hook formations I9 when the yoke element is in its loWermost position so that swinging of the yoke element occurs only when it is near its uppermost position. In other words, initial upward movement and final downward movement of the yoke element is desirably vertically straight.

Referring now to the embodiment of the .invention illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12, it will be observed that the construction is, generally speaking, simply a reversal of the construction illustrated in Figs. 7v to 9. In other Words, instead of having hook formations on the arms Ida of the single yoke element C2 for cooperation with .pins on the frame end plates |09', the slots Illa in saidend plates are provided at their upper ends with lateral extensions Illb and each yoke arm I8a is provided, at a suitable point above its pivotal connection I6a with the cross bar (not shown) with a pin '20"L operating in its related slot. As is apparent, when the yoke element is moved upwardly, the pins 20a, by riding into the lateral extensions Mb of the slots 14a, causes the yoke element to be swung laterally to uncover the top of the frame A2 for blade applying or removal purposes. Moreover, it is apparent that, upon downward movement of the yoke element, the pins Ila rst cooperate with lateral extensions Mb of the slots Ma to cause the yoke element to be swung inwardly, and then cooperate with the straight, vertical portions of said slots to guide the yoke element for straight line downward movement.

Figures 10 to 12 further illustrate that the frame closure plates 28a may be pivoted at their bottoms to the frame A2. As is obvious, the means for causing swinging of the yoke element, or elements, as the case may be, may, according to any of the forms of the invention, be conned to one end only of the razor. Moreover, and as is further obvious, the frame closure invention, be eliminatedand guard means for the lcutting edges of the. blade may be provided directly on the blade supporting frame or in any other suitable manner.

'Without further description it is thought that the features and'advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,

and it will of course be understood that changes inthe form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended'claims.

I claim:

1. A safety razor bladeV holder comprising a frame having an arched blade holding head and end plates connected thereto and a base plate connecting the end plates in'spaced relation to each other, a tubular v'handle connected to the base, the end plates having vertical slots therein, a cross rod having ends slidable in the slots, a yoke shaped blade clamping member providing side arms pivotally connected with the ends of the cross rod, a screw carried by the handle for propelling the cross rod to lift the yoke shaped blade clamping member above the blade holding head, and a pin on one of the end plates ,engageable by one of the side arms to swing the blade clamping member laterally vof the holding head.

2. A safety razor blade holder, comprising a tubular handle and a blade holding frame, said frame includingl a base member directly fixed on the upper end of the handle and upstanding side plates and an arched blade holding member connected to said side plates, a tubular screw arranged in the handle, a cross bar slidable on the frame and having ends slidable through the side plates, and an arched blade clamping member having end arms slidable against the outer faces of the side plates and pivotally connected to the ends of the cross bar, the cross bar having an operating rod Working in the screw and provided with a pin engaging the thread of the screw so that upon turning of the screw the rod is moved to lift and lower the arched blade clamping member.

3. A safety razor blade holder consisting of a tubular handle, a blade supporting frame mounted on the tubular handle and including end plates having vertical slots, a hollow screw in the handle having swivelled connection therewith, said screw having a fast thread extending through the wall thereof, a rod extending through the screw and having a pin extending through said thread, a cross bar connected to the upper end of the rod and having sliding engagement at its ends with the slots of the end plates, a U-shaped blade clamping member pivotally connected with said cross bar, and pins located on said end plates to cause said U-shaped clamping member to swing laterally when elevated by the turning effect of the screw upon the pin of the vertical rod.

4. A razor comprising a blade supporting frame, a tubular handle carried by said frame, a shaft reciprocable in the tube, a cross member carried by said shaft, a clamping plate having an arm pivoted to said cross member, said arm having a J-shaped end, and means carried by the frame engaging the arm near the tip of the J when the shaft is moved in one direction to throw the clamping member on its pivot to blade releasing position and when the shaft is moved in the other direction engaging the stem of the J to throw the clamping member on its pivot to blade clamping position.

5. A safety razor comprising a blade supporting frame including a top wall, a bottom wall and end walls connecting said top and bottom walls. a member for clamping a blade upon said top wall, arms on said member extending downwardly over said end walls, a vertically movable cross member within the frame, means for vertically moving said cross member, pivotal connections between said cross member and the arms of said clamping member, and formations on said arms and on the end walls of said frame cooperating to cause said clamping member to be swung laterally outward to blade releasing position when said cross member is moved upwardly and to cause said clamping member to be swung inward- 1y to blade clamping position when said cross member is moved downwardly.

6. A razor comprising a blade supporting frame, a handle for said frame, a cross bar within said frame, means guiding said cross bar for vertical movement relative to said frame, means for vertically moving said cross bar, a blade clamping plate having arms pivoted to said cross bar, at least one of said arms having a hooked end, and means on the frame cooperating with said hooked end to swing said blade clamping plate laterally with respect to the frame when the cross bar is moved upwardly.

" '7. A razor comprising a blade supporting frame including end plates, a bottom plate and a top blade supporting plate, a handle for said frame, the end plates having vertical slots, at least one ofsaid Aslots having a -lateral extension at its upper end, a cross bar Within said frame, trunnion elements on the ends of said cross bar extending through said slots, means for vertically moving said, cross bar relative to said frame, a blade clamping member having arms pivotally mounted `on said trunnion elements, and a pin on at least one of said arms disposed in the slot having the lateral extension for cooperation with said lateral extension to swing the blade clamping member laterally with respect to the frame when the cross bar is moved upwardly relative to the frame.v

8. A razorcomprising a blade supporting frame, a handle for said frame, a cross member guided for vertical movement relative to said frame,

means for vertically moving said cross member, a pair of blade clamping plates each having depending arms atits ends pivoted to said cross bar, said arms having hooked lower ends, and means on saidframe cooperating with the hooked endsof said arms to swing said blade clamping plates laterally outward with respect to said frame when the cross member is moved upwardly.

FREDERICK C. ROJAHN. 

